Pickled Santa - Ridgeway Brewing

OWSLEY069

Pennsylvania

3.43/5  rDev +3.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours a clean orange-ish to yellow color with an off white head. In the aroma, a lighter gingerbread like malt. In the taste, mellow across the board, with some dry cinnamon in there. A spice like bite and a medium to lighter bodied mouthfeel, with a dry cinnamon flavor in the aftertaste. Cinnamon stands out, but still quite basic for an English ale.

Serving type: bottle

12-31-2012 17:56:44 | More by OWSLEY069

bluejacket74

Ohio

3.08/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

500 ml bottle. Served in a nonic pint glass, the beer pours a clear amber/orange color with about an inch off-white head that stayed around for a little while. There's a small amount of lacing. Aroma is nice but light, it smells like nutmeg, cinnamon, coriander, and some bready malt. It tastes like bready malt, nutmeg, cinnamon, and some apples. Mouthfeel/body is light/medium, it's smooth and has low/moderate carbonation. I think it's an OK brew, but I probably wouldn't buy it again at $4.99 a bottle. Just seems average overall to me.

Serving type: bottle

12-30-2012 23:28:30 | More by bluejacket74

WastingFreetime

Wisconsin

2.43/5  rDev -26.6%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Reviewed from notes.

Pours out an orangish-amber color with good clarity but only a single finger of off-white head that fizzles out to nothing in less than 30 seconds, no lacing at all on the inside of the glass. Lighter side of medium body thickness and carbonation levels.

Smells mostly like nutmeg and werther's original candies, with lighter amounts of cinnamon and cardamom aromas floating around the edges of the biscuit / caramel malt aromas. Taste is VERY much buttery, so very buttery that it becomes a bit of an issue for my tastebuds unfortunately. If I concentrate really hard, I can try to ignore the buttery flavors and find the spicing from the nose in my mouth, but it just really doesn't work out for me in the end. Way too much diacetyl ruins it for me, I'm left with the gustatory impression of a stick of butter that has been rolled around in a crushed holiday spice blend. If only there were more malt relative to the butter content, this one could have been tolerable for me.

Serving type: bottle

09-08-2012 00:25:53 | More by WastingFreetime

chinchill

South Carolina

3.35/5  rDev +1.2%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Portion of a 22oz bottle served in a pint glass.

Pours a clear amber with a bone colored head that has acceptable retention. The large head does reduce rather quickly.

A spicy and modestly malty aroma with hints of an ABV higher than the actual 6%. Plenty (perhaps too much) of spice in the long lasting aftertaste. Finish is slightly dry and mildly bitter.

O: not a great holiday brew, but drinkable, and with the cute label and name, capable of fostering holiday spirit.

Serving type: bottle

03-15-2012 00:11:36 | More by chinchill

GallowsThief

Florida

3.23/5  rDev -2.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured out of a bottle into a tulip.

A – Poured out a light brown to golden with a small half finger of stark white head. Touch of lacing.

S – Has an interesting nutmeg and cinnamon smell. Fairly strong. Smells like a holiday candle.

T – Taste is extremely light. Has the same flavor hints as the smell but very faint. Not really much to it. Cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Bready malts.

M – Light to medium bodied with light carbonation. Tingly on the palate but oddly dry.

O – This had potential with the smell but the flavors fell a bit flat. It’s not a bad brew but it could be a bit more assertive with the taste.

Serving type: bottle

03-05-2012 01:01:44 | More by GallowsThief

dtivp

West Virginia

3.03/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured a clear amber orange, if there was a head I missed it, no lacing.

Aroma of cinnamon spice, floral hops and light malt.

Taste of allspice, stale bread, floral hops and hints of sweet apples.

Mouth Feel was light body, little carbonation, thin, dry and a little tingly.

Overall an average beer with a nice aroma and a disappointing taste.

Serving type: bottle

02-11-2012 00:25:50 | More by dtivp

mralphabet

Virginia

3.4/5  rDev +2.7%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

16.9 oz. poured into a pint glass.

A: Poured a hazy copper color with a big 3 finger head that settles quickly to a ring with no lacing at all.

S: Strong cinnamon smell upfront, little light caramel and spices mixed in, hint of alcohol.

T: Sweet malt from start to finish.... nice mix of spices... cinnamon right up front with a nice mix of caramel & nutmeg.

M: Medium body with a light carbonation.

D: Not a bad little winter warmer. I like the mix of flavors and a pretty good ABV.... Worth looking for.

Serving type: bottle

01-30-2012 01:58:40 | More by mralphabet

greybeardloon

Rhode Island

3.03/5  rDev -8.5%
look: 2 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

no obvious date

A: Head disappears very quickly with no lace.

S: Mild spice and some fruitiness but not much else.

T: Prickly spices (cinnamon mostly) and some earthy and mildly bitter hops. The spices and the hops work together quite well, and the spice is not at all overwhelming.

M: Thin and bubbly.

O: Reasonably drinkable but pretty unexciting.

Serving type: bottle

01-24-2012 03:42:32 | More by greybeardloon

theopholis

California

2.8/5  rDev -15.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 2.5

Appearance: Clear, golden body; the color of old honey. The head is not impressive, and has no staying power.

Smell: Slightly sour with a lot of spices such as allspice, clove, and nutmeg.

Taste: Shall we say....quite Christmansy. Failry malty. Slightly Burtonized. A little overspiced,

Mouthfeel: Thin. Decent attempt at carbonation.

Overall: Average. Great smell, disappointing taste.

Serving type: bottle

01-18-2012 04:28:59 | More by theopholis

AgentMunky

Alabama

2.98/5  rDev -10%
look: 3 | smell: 4 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Poured from a 33cL bottle into a BrewDog cervoise glass. Stamped F13 269.

A: Head finally, begrudingly, forms to a respectable finger and a half. Incredibly clear and golden-coloured, with few bubbles. The nigh-perfect pellucidity unnerves me, but it's a respectable looking ale.

S: Mmm, lots of spices. This is what I expect winter warmers to smell like. A bit heavy-handed, perhaps, but with powerful allspice, clove, and nutmeg.

T: Blergh, not very good. It's sour, thin, and only mildly flavourful. Brackish spices with an unpleasantly sour fruitiness that ends in a sort of dryness you'd expect if you tried to eat a teaspoon of cinnamon. Overspiced, undersupported.

M: Thin, but not obnoxiously so. Decent attempt at carbonation.

O: Average. Great smell, disappointing taste. I would not recommend this beer, nor would I have it again. Still, if you want an obviously spiced winter warmer, you could do worse.

Serving type: bottle

01-11-2012 03:36:41 | More by AgentMunky

tvv375ia

Iowa

3.73/5  rDev +12.7%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

poured from 500ml bottle into imperial pint glass

A-poured a burnt orange/apricot color with about 2 finger head that faded quickly without any lacing

S-a lot of malt and some apricot fruit then some carmel and spice

T-carmel malt, nutmeg with some fruitiness

M-ok carbonation a fairly light body

O-not bad probably not worth the price but I would take one if it was offered

Serving type: bottle

01-07-2012 02:09:54 | More by tvv375ia

goldbot

District of Columbia

2.5/5  rDev -24.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5

Pours clear, medium copper with moderate active carbonation. Very thin, off-white head that dissipates almost instantly. Malty aroma with notes of caramel, bread, raisin and cherry. A slight earthiness hints at the addition of spices. Floral hops brighten the aroma up a bit. The flavor is a heavy, bready malt, on the bitter side and with medium body. No spice or hops notes that I detect. Really, it just plain doesn't taste that great.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 22:38:07 | More by goldbot

chefhatt

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev +17.8%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

when i poured this one into a pint glass, it has a nice light orange body with a nice creamy white head that hangs around for a little bit. The smell has a sweet aroma to it, with some spice, i sense cinnamon. The taste is a little malty but then the hops come in with a hint of spice(cinnamon and some nutmeg) The mouthfeel is good and crisp and overall this beer is a above average beer.

Serving type: bottle

01-05-2012 04:12:15 | More by chefhatt

damndirtyape

Ohio

3.48/5  rDev +5.1%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

500mL bottle (no date) poured into a tulip stout glass. Careful pour left most of the sediment behind.

Appearance: Hazy orange-yellow-tarnished copper. Off-white foam quickly died down to nothing. No lacing noted.

Smell: A little bit sweet with some cinnamon and nutmeg notes, but not terribly strong.

Taste: Sweet malt combined with some spice flavors. I can taste the nutmeg first, then the cinnamon - can't pull out the coriander that the bottle says is there. Some hints of ripe apple in here as well. Bitterness at the end is very mild, somewhat tea-like. It's okay - nothing amazing.

Mouthfeel: Weak carbonation, but very English for style. A bit spicy on the tongue, but a little watery as well.

Overall / Drinkability: An above average beer, but nothing special for a winter warmer. Quite drinkable though - finished it off rather quickly. Because there isn't a lot going on, makes a good beer for just drinking and not thinking a lot about. You note the flavor and then it's gone and think "hey - what was that?" and drink deep again. So higher marks for drinkability but again, nothing special in regards to being a winter warmer.

Serving type: bottle

01-01-2012 23:25:30 | More by damndirtyape

RonaldTheriot

Louisiana

3.53/5  rDev +6.6%
look: 3 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Pickled Santa has a thin-to-medium cream-colored head and a clear, copper appearance, with some lacing and streaming bubbles. The faint aroma does display some indistinguishable spice smells and bread. Taste is straight ahead hoppy and some malt, as well a spice of some sort. The mouthfeel is watery (really akin to lager more than ale), and Pickled Santa finishes crisp, clean, and easy drinking. As I drank it down, my opinion went from average up to good.

RJT

Serving type: bottle

12-25-2011 12:58:13 | More by RonaldTheriot

GarthDanielson

New Hampshire

3.2/5  rDev -3.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Poured from a bottle into a tumbler pint, the beer pours with a lot of foaming, but settles with a nice, bright, vibrant, copper-honey coloring with a finished thin layer of foamy, light, off-white head that is barely an eighth of an inch. Aromas of a light malt sweetness, a slight roasting, and some subtle spice blends that entice the drinker. Very mild, but very well blended overall smells. Flavors are more heavily roasted, with a toasty caramel malt backbone that allows the all-spice, nutmeg, and clove spicing to blossom at the end of the palate. Good, subtle hopping to help balance the brew and clean the palate. The beer is light bodied, with only a slight, inconsistent lacing on parts of the glass. A little on the light/weak side for a winter warmer, at least in my preference. The aftertaste is mostly spiced, with a slight sweetness that lingers behind. The finish is light, and somewhat clean, but has a few lingering characteristics that hang on a bit too long. Not a bad beer, but not something I would go out of my way for.

Serving type: bottle

12-24-2011 22:26:13 | More by GarthDanielson

TheQuietMan22

Iowa

2.95/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

Serving type: 500 ml bottle. There is a cryptic batch code printed on the label but no discernable freshness date.

Appearance: Straight pour into a pint glass. The color is hazy light rust/amber. The label says “ruddy chestnut” but I think chestnut is a little darker. A lousy pour yielded a lousy head (not the beer’s fault), but I got a half finger of white head which dissipated quickly to leave a very thin lacing and ring around the edge.

Smell: Caramel, warm chestnuts, nutmeg, honey, dark fruit (mostly plum and cherry), sweet fruit (like green apple), pale malts, toffee, and a little cinnamon spice. I do not get too much spice, but that is fine. Overall it is pretty sweet.

Taste: I really do not know where to start. My first sip was full of spice, but it faded quickly as my taste buds adjusted. The mouthfeel is much like soda, which is very off-putting and does not allow the flavors to truly emerge. However, the chestnut, nutmeg, and cherry do come through, and a little grassy hop spice makes a short appearance after the beer has warmed significantly.

Drinkability: I do not really feel this one. It is neither a winter warmer or spiced beer, but it is another experience.

Serving type: bottle

12-22-2011 05:51:40 | More by TheQuietMan22

Heischman

Georgia

3.13/5  rDev -5.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.5

Beer/Brewery - Pickled Santa/Ridgeway Brewing
City/State- South Stoke, United Kingdom (England)
STYLE –Winter Warmer
ABV – 6%
IBU – 60
DATE – 14 DEC 2011
SERVING TYPE – 1 Pint 9 oz bottle
GLASSWARE – Imperail Pint Glass
APPEARANCE – The color of honey with lots of big bubbles and a thin snow white head nice lacing
AROMA- Barley and light floral hops, touch of fruitiness as well
TASTE – Green Apple and grain with a hint of orange
MOUTHFEEL – Very light and over carbanated
CONCLUSION – It is a good brew to try but nothing exta special.
-JH-

Serving type: bottle

12-14-2011 22:46:10 | More by Heischman

StaveHooks

Oklahoma

2.95/5  rDev -10.9%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3

A - Slightly hazy, amber/orange, small white head fades to nothing.

S - Fruity, sweet cinnamon apples, peaches, buttery caramel malt. Some sourness when it warms up a bit.

T - Sweet husk grain, ripe orchard apples and peaches, cherries, faint dry spices come out but grassy hops overshadow the Christmas spices. Hints of diacetyl. Finishes wet and with miner hints of grassy hops.

M - Medium body, low carbonation slowly drops off.

The flavors start off good but everything gets thin and the aftertaste is unsatisfying. Would drink again but wouldn't seek it out.

Serving type: bottle

12-09-2011 23:18:03 | More by StaveHooks

bsp77

Minnesota

3.18/5  rDev -3.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

Serving glass: Poured from bottle into Nonic Imperial Pint.

Appearance: Light copper with thin white head and not much lacing.

Smell: Spicy, floral English hops, some light dry malt backing.

Taste: Biscuit and dry caramel malts with a lot of spicy and floral notes on top. Maybe some of that is from the spices but mostly seems like English hops. Fairly medicinal.

Feel: Moderately high carbonation, medium body, very dry but oddly tingly finish.

Overall: Seems more like an English Ale gone somewhat awry, as opposed to being spiced. Still drinkable, but nothing special.

Serving type: bottle

12-04-2011 00:23:05 | More by bsp77

JoeAmerican77

Colorado

3.75/5  rDev +13.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Pours out a fading top re to yellow bottom with thick bubble off white ahead, two fingers atop...

Smells of orange cinnamon, some sour yeast and light hops

Caramel and brown sugar some spicy pepper and pumpkin behind the sweetness. The sweetness seems to be carried by something similar to belgian candy

Medium body with a sticky ending and some warmth from the alcohol even though it is only six percent

Overall I had no big expectations for an english ale. I like big bang flavors and England usually delivers on the smoother side. However this took me by huge surprise as a fantastic bold palate. Spicy refreshing and sweet.

Serving type: bottle

05-26-2011 02:27:34 | More by JoeAmerican77

DoubleJ

California

3.88/5  rDev +17.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

I picked this up at Coit Liquors about three weeks ago, and now it's going to be consumed. On to the beer:

Cough syrup orange in color with hues going into yellow. The head on top is solid, developing a little bit of gentle lace that sticks. The nose is distinctly English, or at least the soft, buttery, somewhat sweet yeast that arises from the beer.

Although the bottle says that it is a winter warmer style, the taste is telling me a different story. Don't worry, this is still a likable flavor. Buttersctoch, a little diacetyl and husk, also a subtle flavor of esters and vague spice. The package as a whole gets better and better tasting as the beer moves closer towards the bottom of the glass. The carbonation is low in this beer, the texture being soft and medium bodied. While I like the overall package, I would need to be in the mood for something like this, and I would take my time drinking it.

Pickled Santa isn't just for the winter time; it's well into the spring season and all is good around here. I'm already dreaming of a helping of Spotted Dick as I finish my pint.

Serving type: bottle

04-20-2011 05:55:13 | More by DoubleJ

depechemode1983

Texas

3.45/5  rDev +4.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3 | overall: 3

Pours cloudy orange honey in color with an off white head. Little retention on this one. No lacing on the glass at all. Nice color though. The nose is a little sour and spicy. There is a little bit of nutmeg and cinnamon with some sweet carmel/maple notes, along with an apricot and green apple sourness. Taste is a bit light. There is a little sourness that is balanced out with some sweet caramel and nutmeg. There is a bit of spiciness in the aftertaste. The mouthfeel is good but not great. Very smooth, however I would have liked to see a bit more carbonation. Its minimal. It would have worked well with the spiciness to give it a cleaner finish. Its an average beer. The nose was the best part. However the taste is bland. At 5.99 a bottle I wouldn't buy it again. Worth a try though. If you see it.

Serving type: bottle

03-18-2011 01:31:45 | More by depechemode1983

beerprovedwright

Georgia

3.08/5  rDev -6.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3

A finger of quickly fading head, leaving a moderate clinging lace. Color of this brew matches a 15 on the SRM beer color chart. A good drawn sniff detects, nutmeg, ginger, citrus, pumpkin, roasted barley, and dill. Tasting the brew I detect flavors of dill, nutmeg, celery, pumpkin, ginger, malt, and citrus. Semi full with some carbonation, but not quite there. Not bad, but not overly uncommon. I would have another if I saw it on tap, but not again in the bottle.

Serving type: bottle

02-24-2011 19:21:52 | More by beerprovedwright

IchabodcraneIpa

Illinois

1.5/5  rDev -54.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 1 | feel: 3 | overall: 1

Served in a bottle

I picked this up during the Christmas season just to try one of the many seasonal types of beer that were available. Once I popped this open and took a smell of the beer inside it smelled a little strange to me. The smell reminded me more of a vinegar- esque flavor and once I took a sip my mouth was taken on a journey that I never want to recreate again. Now don't get me wrong, this isn't that bad of a beer, the flavor just was not something that I myself could truly enjoy. It started off tasting of spices like nutmeg, Dill, and possibly Ginger, but then took a complete 180 and to me it actually tasted like a pickle. The flavor then faded away to leave a strange dill like taste. For those looking for an interesting take on a beer I would suggest this particular brew but I just did not like the feel of the pickle taste in my mouth after awhile.

Serving type: bottle

02-15-2011 03:11:35 | More by IchabodcraneIpa